Safety clasp for watch chains



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,506

H. J. RIVERS SAFETY CLASP FOR WATCH (FHA INS Filed May 6, 7

IN VENTOR fifr/vn'rgf 1E7 l/E/E's'. f 411's ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 23,1928, j

UNITED STA S HENRY a. RIVERS, or ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY CLASP FOR \VA'ICH CHAINSL Application filed May 6,

This invention relates to safety clasps and in particularto one designedto :be used 1n connection with awatch and chain and'arranged to beattachedreleasably to the edge of the vest. c

A particular object of the invention isthe provision of a watch chainvest safety clasp used to protect the watch from being broken as aresult of its falling out of the pocket of the vest when the same. ishung up or when the clasp is secured to the vest,-the watch preventedfrom falling to the grou-ndwhe'n the wearer stoops overas is commonlythe case in the use of ordinary watch chains that are extended'acrossthe vest from pocket to pocket to display the same.

A further particular object of my invention is to provide a'clasp whichwill retard the action of a pickpocket and will give warn-.

2 ing and also one which'can be made to serve as an ornament to holdlodge insignias so that they can be worn in connection with the watchchain instead of the coat lapel and also'to hold initial signetswhichwere formerly-worn on rings'and lockets and other ornamental de Itis evident, also,'that my invention may be used in a variety ofdifferent ways andone of the most important objects being-the prothevest and which is positioned centrally of the watch chain and towhlchany part cular of the watch chain to give the ornamental ef fectdesired. v p

To enable others skilled in the artto fully comprehend theunderlying'features that they may embody the same in thevariousinodifica tions in structure and relation contemplated, a drawingdepicting a preferred form has been anneXed'as a part of this disclosureand in such drawings, similar reference characall the views, of which,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective. showing the watch chain as it wouldappear when worn having embodied thereinm'y improved safety clasp.

Figure 2 vision of a clip which may engage the edge of ters denotecorresponding parts throughout prevent SGPHIfltlOII of the jaw membersofthe is a view in perspective of the 1927:. Serial No. 189,385

PATENT oF lcE.

clasp showing. the construction thereof and showing how'. the chain issecured thereto.

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section, the-particular safety claspas shown in Figure 2, the ornamental member being used in con-.

nection with the clasp and its attachment thereto being illustrated. j

Figure 4 is a View of a modified form of clasp having secured theretothe retaining plate to which isalsosecured alocketshowing how'the samemay be used'in connection with a watch chain andisafety clasp, and

.Figure 5 is a plan viewof the device shown in Figure 4, the locketbeing illustrated asit would appear upon the vest of the wearer.

. Referring to the. drawings in detail, 5 indicates ,a watch chainof thewell known variety.

to one end of which is secured the watch 6, po-

sitioned in the pocket of the vest 7 of the wearer, the other end of thechain being arranged to hold a knife or other useful article i which isusually positioned in the opposite pocket- 8 of the vest; It is ofcourselundei v stood that the chain 5 extends across the chest of thewearer and heretofore has" not only hung loosely across the chest of thewearer but has not been securedto the'vest in any manner so that theftis prevented or the watch is prevented from falling to the groundandbreaking. 1

'With thisimprovement in'mind, I have 7 provided a clip member orsafetyclasp which 'comprises a lower jaw member 9 which is turned up at itsforward end as at 10 to provide teeth, the forward end also intermediatethe teeth being provided with an extended portion 11 in which is'formedan eye 12and to which the chain has connection tothe jaw member 9, theopposite endof the 'jaw'being provided with an extended "portion 13 inwhich an eyealso is formed, the chain at that end being indicated by-the" numeral 14; and being connected to the eye in the usual'manner.This bottom jaw 9 or member is provided with side ears 15 to which issecured depending cars 16 of anupper jaw member 17, the depending ears16 and upstanding ears 15 being pivotally connected through the mediumof-a pivot pin 18 which passes there through andis headedat the oppositeside to clipor clasp'. This pin 18 being arrangedto carry a coil spring19, the ends of which abut on the front edge of the upper jaw member 17I} and 011 the front edge of the lower 1' aw mem her 9 are normally, incontact. This, of course,

is readily understood and bemg necessary so that the clasp may grip theedge of the vest to hold the device in position thereon. V

In order to arrange an nsignia in pos tlon on the clasp, I have shownablank insignia plate 20 which is offancitul shape and which mayrepresent a lodge emblem, society emblem or any other device of anornamental nature, it being ofcourse understood that this plate 20 isused for illustration purposes only and no ornamentation has beenapplied thereto except as shown in the perspective. in Fig-r ure 1 togive an idea how the: insignia might look it in position on the vest ofthe wearer.

The plate 20 at one end 11 is provided with an opening 12 in which thewatch'chain 5 is connected, the opposite end '13 of the plate outoftlie' locket plate and being -forced through the openings 22in theupper, :jaw

" member 17 so as to hold theiplatein solid connection with theclipmember indicated. generally as at 25 and.formedidentically as abovedescribed with, the exception of the chain holding extensions, which inthis instance are provided on the ends of the. plate 24,-as illustrated.V I a The locket may be made of; any desired con- -struction and mayincludethe case 26 and cover 27 lll Wlll ch is held the transparent imember 28 and picture orv ornamentation 29,

it being of course understood that the bottom of the locket is solderedor otherwise suitably secured to the locket plate 24 and thus does nottake up the tension of the chain and is not subject to pull, the pullsof the chain being directly through the locket plate-24 which issecuredthrough the medium of the tongues 3,. as before described'to theclip members.

It is evident that the locket may be of any suitable size and in everyinstance the ornamental member is sufficient to cover or con 'ceal theclip member so that it is not evident that the chain is being held inposition on the vest and the insignia is properly displayed;

Itis also evident that I have provided a safety clasp for use inconnection with vests and arranged to hold a chain, as a watch chain ofthe Valdeniartype or any other type watch chain which will prevent thewatch from beingbrolren by reason ofits falling out of the pocketandwhichwill prevent the watch from becoming separated from the vest whenthevest isthrown over the back of a chair or is hung in a closet orotherwise not in use. a r. a

It'is further evident'that it-prevents the stealing of the watch.because any tug on the watch chain will be felt by the wearer and alsothe watch chain. is rendered more ornamental. by reason of the additionthereto of aninsignia, lodge emblem orqothenorna mental featurei .7

Itis evident therefore, that I have provided a clip which will add to'theappearance of the wearer and one which may be madciup at small cost,which may be usedwith a plurality of difl'erent emblems and one whichmay be adaptedtoruse with interchangeable emblems, lockets or otherinsignia.

lVhile I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree ofparticularity, I realize that in practice variousalterations therein maybe made. It-hereforereserve the i right and privilege 'of'changingtheform of the deta1ls oi construct1on orotherwise-alterwithout departingfrom the spirit of the-invention or the scope of thev appended claims.Having thus described my invention what Iclaim as new anddesire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is,: v

1. A clasp, for joining: the sections 'ot a ing the arrangement of thecorrelated parts watch chain comprising pivoted upper and V lowergripping jaw members for engaging the cloth ng, a springtornormallyurging the aw members together and an insi nia menn ber secured to theupper one of said gripping members and arranged to conceal the same, andsaid insignia memberbeing provided Wltli openings tor rece1v1ngtheendlink of thechain sect-ions. y

2. A clasp tor oining the'secti'ons-ofi a watch chain comprising pivoted:upper' and lower gr pplngfmembers,adapted to grip the 7' edge of agarment, the upper. member having openings therein, a plate, lips on theplate arranged to enter; the openings tosecurethe plate .tlleilppei'memben together and an ornamentalmemberv on sai'dplate and the platebeing providedavith openings for receiving the end links ofthechain'sections. i

3. A clasp for joining the sections of; a.

watch chain comprising pivoted upper and lower gripping members, aspring :for cause ingthe members to normally grip the edgeof a garment,the upper member havingopen: ings therein, a plate, lips-punchedout ofthe plate and arranged to enter theopenings-to secure the 7 plate andthe upper member to gether a locket member secured to'said-jplate", andthe plate bemgprovided"with openings for receivin'g the end links of thechain sections. i

' In testimony whereoftIafliX my signature HENRY J. RIVERS.- [n s:]

